The video-conference presented the Rijeka port and ports in Poland and the Netherlands.
The Rijeka Gateway Project was launched by the Croatian government in July 2003, in cooperation with the World Bank, and is to be completed in autumn 2009.
The project is aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Croatian economy by improving international cargo and passenger transport in Rijeka, by linking the port with the road network and by revitalising and privatising port business.
Around 30 contracts have been signed so far in the course of the project and their value exceeds USD60 million, said Snjezana Papes of the Rijeka Port.
Reconstruction works are being carried out by companies from Japan, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, and Croatia.
The project amounts to USD266 million, of which 156.5 million was provided by the World Bank in the form of a loan.
Around 50 million of the loan is intended for the modernisation of the port, and around 100 million for the modernisation and reconstruction of the local road infrastructure.